India Supplies Three Tons Of Essential Medicines To Afghanistan. Wheat Shipment To Start Early Feb, Says Report

India has already supplied three shipments of medical assistance, consisting of 5,00,000 doses of COVID vaccine and essential medicines to Afghanistan.

File Photo: ANI

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday informed that India supplied the fourth batch of medical assistance involving 3 tons of “essential life-saving” medicines to Afghanistan amid the ongoing humanitarian assistance.

India will supply more batches of humanitarian assistance consisting of medicines and foodgrains for the people of Afghanistan, the ministry stated.

“As part of our ongoing humanitarian assistance, India supplied the fourth batch of medical assistance consisting of 3 tons of essential life saving medicines to Afghanistan. The same was handed over to the Indira Gandhi Hospital, Kabul,” the Ministry of External Affairs wrote in a statement.

“India stands committed to continue our special relationship with the people of Afghanistan and provide humanitarian assistance,” it added. 

The ministry mentioned that India has already supplied three shipments of medical assistance, consisting of 5,00,000 doses of COVID vaccine and essential medicines to Afghanistan. The supply was handed over to the WHO and India Gandhi Children Hospital, Kabul.

“In coming weeks, we would be supplying more batches of humanitarian assistance consisting of medicines and foodgrains for the people of Afghanistan,” the MEA stated.

India’s Wheat Shipment To Afghanistan Expected To Start Early Next Month: Report

During a media briefing on Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs had stated that India has supplied 3.6 tonnes of medical assistance to Afghanistan while the process to procure wheat and arrange its transportation to that country is currently underway.

Asked about humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that the Union government is committed to providing humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people, comprising food grains, COVID vaccines, and essential life-saving drugs.

He added that the process to procure wheat and to arrange its transportation is currently underway, mentioning that this takes some time.

“India’s wheat shipment to Afghanistan as part of its humanitarian aid to the trouble-torn country through the Pakistani soil is expected to start early next month as New Delhi and Islamabad have finally agreed on the modalities after months of discussions,” news agency PTI reported citing another media report.

The Express Tribune newspaper cited diplomatic sources as informing that the shipment would start in early February.

Earlier, India had announced that it will send 50,000 tonnes of wheat and medicines to Afghanistan by road transport through Pakistan as the latter, last year, allowed Union government to send 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat by using its land route.

India and Pakistan were reported to be finalising the modalities for transportation of the consignments. 

New Delhi has been calling for unimpeded humanitarian aid to Afghanistan in order to address the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the country.

While the Indian government has not recognised the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, it has been pitching for the formation of an inclusive government in Kabul besides stressing that Afghan soil must not be used for any terrorist activities against any country.

Notably, New Delhi hosted a regional dialogue on Afghanistan on November 10 last year that was attended by NSAs of Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

(With Agency Inputs)